The guy has done two kickstarters in the past, and the previous lights worked but contained a fairly large neodymium magnet assembly (https://www.magniclight.com/en/technology/magnets/45-magnetrings).Essentially how it works is you have a spinning aluminum (rim) or steel plate, and the strong magnetic field creates eddy currents. If you have every dropped a magnet inside a copper tube, you will understand. The magnets will spin, creating a strong moving field, which can be captured in a coil or multiple coils of wire (I assume this is how he's doing it).

The pictures are a working 3D printed prototype. How he's managed to miniaturize the technology is impressive. I suppose its just a much smaller generator sitting inside there, current doesn't have to be too high for a small red LED. I have not seen any internal photos though, other than of the LED driver board (contains active rectifier).

It's an interesting device, though with some fairly useless "add on" features such as turn signals.

However it looks like you can only wear away a tiny fraction of the brake shoe before the body of the light would be pushed against the rim? I must have missed something obvious, as that would seem to be a major flaw.

It's an interesting device, though with some fairly useless "add on" features such as turn signals.

However it looks like you can only wear away a tiny fraction of the brake shoe before the body of the light would be pushed against the rim? I must have missed something obvious, as that would seem to be a major flaw.

Yes I agree the turn signal feature is useless and is probably just a distraction (how often will you accidentally trigger it). Its only on the higher priced "smart" model.

Good eye on the body of the light rubbing. I see a small rail that it looks like would be used to adjust the distance of the module. So presumably as the shoe wears, you would need to slide the light module further out. Which is annoying, but OK compromise to keep peak efficiency/coupling.

Why would I want to mount the lights on the brake shoes anyway? They get wet and dirty down there. Strange idea...

Also, it seems that these are not certified for use on public roads -- you can only install (and use) them as secondary lights, at least in Germany, probably most of Europe. That totally defeats the purpose in my view, which would be to keep a minimalist look of the bike.

Why would I want to mount the lights on the brake shoes anyway? They get wet and dirty down there. Strange idea...

I can see the logic; the method of power generation means it needs to be close to the wheel rim and building it into the brake shoes means it's a quick and simple add-on for any bike using caliper/vee/centre pull brakes with no special brackets needed.

Why would I want to mount the lights on the brake shoes anyway? They get wet and dirty down there. Strange idea...

I can see the logic; the method of power generation means it needs to be close to the wheel rim and building it into the brake shoes means it's a quick and simple add-on for any bike using caliper/vee/centre pull brakes with no special brackets needed.

Well, alternatively there would be the revolutionary concept of attaching the power generator close to the rim -- at the brake shoes, if one desires -- and mounting the actual lights elsewhere. I heard that so-called "wires" have been used successfully to transport electrical power.

Why would I want to mount the lights on the brake shoes anyway? They get wet and dirty down there. Strange idea...

I can see the logic; the method of power generation means it needs to be close to the wheel rim and building it into the brake shoes means it's a quick and simple add-on for any bike using caliper/vee/centre pull brakes with no special brackets needed.

Well, alternatively there would be the revolutionary concept of attaching the power generator close to the rim -- at the brake shoes, if one desires -- and mounting the actual lights elsewhere. I heard that so-called "wires" have been used successfully to transport electrical power.

I agree, that's an obvious and easy fix for the problem of the light positioning, but doesn't fix the problem of the surface of the generator and the surface of the brake shoe being almost level.

In the US as I understand it we just have to have lights, we don't have to have any approval for the lights. As long as it is a bicycle, even an electric one in order to ride at night you just have to have a front and rear light and reflectors. So its sufficient enough for one to strap two flashlights on your bike one with a red cello tape on it for the rear and your golden. Truth be told not many people in the US ride bikes though, just look at our collective waist lines....

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Little beats big when little is smart, first with the head then with the heart ~P.K. Power of One